Jul 8, 2018 By State Rep Matthew Dowling 3 min read

Another budget season has closed for the General Assembly. We worked tirelessly to ensure the final budget was fair and effective to both departments and agencies without taking additional money from taxpayers.

We were able to craft a budget that satisfied both the General Assembly and Gov. Tom Wolf, and we did it before the June 30 deadline. For the first time in many years, we will have a budget that took effect promptly on July 1.

Here’s a breakdown of what the budget means to Pennsylvanians:

Financial aspect

The state government, for Fiscal Year 2018-19, will spend a total of $32.7 billion, which is a 1.7 percent increase in growth over the lasy year, putting us below the rate of inflation. This was made possible by restraining government spending, which allowed Pennsylvanians to keep more of their hard-earned money. This restraint also allowed us to eradicate our $2 billion deficit and put money into the Rainy Day Fund for the first time in over a decade. This was all accomplished without raising taxes, as proposed by the governor time and time again. We were able to find another way.

Educational aspect

As always, education is one of our main focuses when putting together the state budget. For the 2018-19 fiscal year, we were able to increase funding for basic, early childhood and special education, as well as community colleges, by 3 percent.

State-related universities and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities saw an increase by 3.3 percent. The local schools in our district benefited greatly from these increases, as their total funding is shown below.

• The Meyersdale Area School District – $9,830,542

• Salisbury-Elk Lick School District – $2,773,517

• Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District – $3,284,037

• Albert Gallatin Area School District – $34,433,901

• Laurel Highlands School District – $22,684,901

• Uniontown Area School District – $23,883,497

In addition to these increases, this budget also created a $60 million block grant program which will allow schools throughout the Commonwealth to have access to funding for school safety. This money can be used to hire school resource officers, purchase metal detectors, invest in school safety assessments, etc.

Local aspect

While our budget will give aid to help carry out the core functions of government, it will also provide needed funding to protect our communities. Pennsylvania State Police can begin training three new cadet classes, adding another 285 state troopers to its ranks. Evidence-based home visits can now be provided to 800 families that have been affected by the opioid epidemic, and EMS agencies across the Commonwealth will be given a $4 million increase to help continue to offer medical assistance.

Even though the budget season came to an early conclusion this year, it by no means was an easy feat. But in the end both chambers and the governor were able to compromise and create a fair budget that will put Pennsylvania on a better, fiscally responsible path.

We not only did what was right for our Commonwealth, but what was right for citizens we represent.

Matthew Dowling has served as the State Representative for the 51st Legislative District in Fayette and Somerset Counties since Jan. 2, 2017.